Pre-Draft Thread / Workout Updates

[Howard Cosell]

Just looked at the salaries....we would probably have to take on Okafor, Ariza or Vesley...i dont see us trading with WAS if Porter is there at 3 which looks likely unless they really value shedding salary over of their Core of Wall, Beal and Porter

I think it would have to be with Nene Hilario or Emeka Okafur, because Ariza is on a players option. Maybe Vesley.


What about this:

The Wizards trade their 1st Round Pick (3rd overall) + Nene Hilario ($13,000,000) to the Timberwolves

The Timberwolves trade their 1st Round Pick (9th overall) + 1st Round (26th pick overall) + Derrick Williams ($5,016,960) + Greg Stiemsma ($2,690,875) + Luke Ridnour (4,320,000) to the Wizards


The Wolves would have to decline Cunningham's Team Option to make room for Nene on the floor and in the budget. The Wizards cut Stiemsma and save 1.5 Mil between the slot/salary of 3rd pick vs. 9th pick. The Wizards would save about 3.6 Mil for next season and about 8 Mil for the 2014-15 season when they need to max out Wall.

C Okafor /Seraphin/26th Pick
F #9 Zeller/Booker
F Williams/Webster/Vesely
G Beal / Temple/38th pick
G Wall /Ridnour

C Pekovich /Johnson
F Love /Hilario
F AK47/Budinger/
G Oladipo /Barea/
G Rubio/Shved/Lee

[Wolves_Nation]

Question, I'm not sure the answer of: Can we trade AK's contract right now? In other words, if we traded him to Washington on draft day, could he then opt out in which case Wiz would basically get $10M in cap space?

If that were possible, we could do something like an AK for Ariza + Vesely with #9 and #3 swap.

I'm 99% sure we can trade his contract. As of now, he's still under contract for next season.

[Howard Cosell]

We can't trade AK47 at this time.

Maybe it wouldn't involve Nene..maybe it would involve a smaller contract in Vesely, but I'm not sure how that would save the Wizards money. At least the Nene deal would save the Wizards money while bringing back an asset.

Kind of like this deal:

http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=4448



But I don't think the Wizards would want to give up Nene in this deal I proposed.

[Howard Cosell]

http://www.hoopsrumors.com/


Offseason Outlook: Washington Wizards
June 21 at 11:32am CST By Luke Adams

. Okafor and Ariza are both certain to opt in for next season, adding another $22MM+ to the team's books and effectively eliminating any potential cap space

At least one report has indicated Okafor and Ariza will opt in for 2013/14, which had been expected. When it becomes official, the Wizards' guaranteed salary will increase to $57,065,519 without factoring in cap holds

.


So if there is any relevance/truth to the following tweet:

Russillo ‏@ryenarussillo 9m
WAS at #3 would love to package pick w/ a contract to get out...

I think it would have to involve 3rd pick + Nene Hilario's Contract and if the Wolves got involved it would have to be 9 & 26 + Williams, Ridnour (expiring contract) and Stiemsma or Cunningham to make it work.

Ok, I'm done drilling down on this one now that I've given everyone another headache.

[Klomp]

Question, I'm not sure the answer of: Can we trade AK's contract right now? In other words, if we traded him to Washington on draft day, could he then opt out in which case Wiz would basically get $10M in cap space?

If that were possible, we could do something like an AK for Ariza + Vesely with #9 and #3 swap.

I'm 99% sure we can trade his contract. As of now, he's still under contract for next season.

I initially was under the impression that you were wrong, but found this interesting:

Interestingly, there is no mechanism to notify the league that an option or ETO will not be exercised [Klomp's note: this means if he were to become a FA]. Teams and players might want to do this in order to make the player tradable after the season ends but before July 1 (see question number 98), or because the player wants to be traded to a team which does not want the player if he might become a free agent. As described in question number 60, under these circumstances the team and player can mutually amend the contract to remove the option or ETO.

This certainly makes things more interesting.

Something else interesting

A contract with an option can be extended if the player opts-in. A contract with an option can also be extended if the player opts-out, as long as the extension adds at least two new seasons onto the contract (excluding any new option year) and the salary in the first year of the extension is not less than the salary in the non-exercised option year. See question number 57 for more information on options and ETOs.

So even if AK opts out and we extend him, we will be paying him no less than the 10.2m we owe him

(Source: Larry Coon's CBA FAQ, Questions 57 and 58)

[Howard Cosell]

Question, I'm not sure the answer of: Can we trade AK's contract right now? In other words, if we traded him to Washington on draft day, could he then opt out in which case Wiz would basically get $10M in cap space?

If that were possible, we could do something like an AK for Ariza + Vesely with #9 and #3 swap.

I'm 99% sure we can trade his contract. As of now, he's still under contract for next season.

I initially was under the impression that you were wrong, but found this interesting:

Interestingly, there is no mechanism to notify the league that an option or ETO will not be exercised [Klomp's note: this means if he were to become a FA]. Teams and players might want to do this in order to make the player tradable after the season ends but before July 1 (see question number 98), or because the player wants to be traded to a team which does not want the player if he might become a free agent. As described in question number 60, under these circumstances the team and player can mutually amend the contract to remove the option or ETO.

This certainly makes things more interesting.

Something else interesting

A contract with an option can be extended if the player opts-in. A contract with an option can also be extended if the player opts-out, as long as the extension adds at least two new seasons onto the contract (excluding any new option year) and the salary in the first year of the extension is not less than the salary in the non-exercised option year. See question number 57 for more information on options and ETOs.

So even if AK opts out and we extend him, we will be paying him no less than the 10.2m we owe him

(Source: Larry Coon's CBA FAQ, Questions 57 and 58)

Interesting.

[Klomp]

Interesting.

Yeah, just realized I wrote that a lot in that post.

[Biff Cooper]

I don't see that anyone has proven he can't be traded as things currently stand, so I'll do it via Coon #98

http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm

•When the trade deadline has passed. Teams are free to make trades again once their season has ended3, but cannot trade players whose contracts are ending or could end due to an option or ETO.

[Howard Cosell]

Interesting.

Yeah, just realized I wrote that a lot in that post.

Honestly, I didn't even notice it.

[Howard Cosell]

I don't see that anyone has proven he can't be traded as things currently stand, so I'll do it via Coon #98

http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm

•When the trade deadline has passed. Teams are free to make trades again once their season has ended, but cannot trade players whose contracts are ending or could end due to an option or ETO.

but cannot trade players whose contracts are ending or could end due to an option or ETO

Thanks.

[GreenRiddler]

I watched Mbakwe handle Zeller without much issue. The Gophers only had Mbakwe and two guards, that was their team, if Zeller was a C he shouldn't have many issues with a 6'7" PF, as is he was outplayed by a smaller dude, who is a fringe NBA player himself. He doesn't seem to be able to handle strong guys, and since he'll have to play PF in the NBA, I'm not really sure he's ever going to much more than a backup. Half the guys in the first round are busts, more when you get to bigs, I'm not sure why he won't be one of them.

I think Derrick Williams is a better player, and we don't have much use for him, and we need wings, he isn't one

Your gonna let let one game make you turn off on someone completely? That's why the bulls chose Tyrus Thomas over LMA. He is not the right guy for the the Wolves IMO. But to say he isn't good at B-ball is just crazy and to say it because of one or two games where he played poor. There is a reason he is not going number 1 overall consensus, people have faults.

[Saltine]

It was way more than one game, he can't handle physical play, that's a major issue at C and PF.
Essentially Zeller is a weak power forward, which is about the last thing we need on the Wolves. I just don't understand how he could possibly help this team, we have 3 much better power forwards already.

I thought the same thing with Thabeet, dude was all neck. Maybe they turn into decent players, maybe not, but I'm a bit too old to ignore obvious shortcomings in a player, especially a weak big man, or a slow guard.

I'm sure the scouts disagree as well

[GopherIt!]

Interesting comments by Wolfson. I hope the cards fall into place for option 1. I am concerned about Detroit at 8 though. The Wolves may have to make a deal if they want him.

Sounds like the Cavs are working on a trade w Dallas for 13 and are targeting Karasev. I was hoping to see him in a Wolves uniform next season.

[Devilzsidewalk]

I haven't heard much about Mac from Flip.. Might mean he really likes him?


Maybe this Oladipo love was a smokescreen for flips true plans

I'd like to think he was that devious, but thus far it just looks like he's completely forthcoming about who he likes in the draft. I've yet to figure out how it benefits in any way.

And if it were a smokescreen, I'd be upset since it means he's not actually that interested in the 2 guys I like the most - Oladipo and KCP .

[Dewey]

Between Oladipo and McLemore I would expect there to be little preference overall in realuty ... both good athletes for sure. Oladipo is a little more mature mentally and physically right now and I think that makes him appear less risky. McLemore is a little more gifted skill-wise.

I doubt Flip would be disappointed with either player and I think he will go after which ever one comes available in a potential trade up. If they were both there, it would ultimately come down to which one he believes has the best to delivering in crunch time ... the edge goes to edgeo Oladipo just due the fact he's stronger and more proven to make a stop defensively.

Our luck we'll trade up for the #1 and take the wrong guy.

[theGreatRC]

If Cavs take Porter #1, mark my words, we're trading with WAS for the #3 + Okafor, Nene or Vesley

[Klomp]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/chadfordinsider/status/349168845132537856[/tweet]

[C.lupus]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/chadfordinsider/status/349168845132537856[/tweet]

If Porter is off the table at 3 I could definitely see WAS being interested in a Williams-based trade down.

[Klomp]

Old draft footage on NBATV

Wolves just drafted Rasho Nesterovic!

[Klomp]

Flip's pre-draft presser: http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/video/2 ... p4-2520276